Kashmiri Woman IAS Officer Raises Awareness On Menstrual Hygiene Among Young Girls

The speakers thoroughly deliberated on the issues of domestic violence and sexual harassment at workplaces, legal rights of women.

Syed Sehrish Asgar, a 2013-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, is the District Magistrate (DM) of Budgam.

Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir): In a first of its kind, the district administration of Budgam on Monday organized an all-woman conclave to celebrate womanhood. The aim was to educate the women about their rights, and constitutional rights and address the problems faced by girl students during their menstrual periods. Led by 2012 Batch IAS Syed Shehrish Asgar, Deputy Commissioner of Budgam - women from various fields spoke on the legal rights, legal protection, harassment and related issues of womenfolk. The conclave discussed menstruation issues at length, which is a taboo in the highly conservative rural Kashmir. "Menstruation is not a shame but a matter of pride", said the young female officer to the young audience, most of whom have not seen such issues been discussed publicly. The speakers thoroughly deliberated on the issues of domestic violence and sexual harassment at workplaces, legal rights of women. The programme was attended by females from diverse fields - from judges to housewives, students to entrepreneurs. Young students appreciated the efforts of the officer in highlighting the issues of the women. Young students want more such programmes to be conducted across the length and breadth of the valley - where most of the women don’t even know their rights. "Our mothers and sisters don’t know their rights. They have to face discrimination everywhere and more such programmes need to be organised," said young Beenish, a student. In a society where most women have to face some sort of discrimination - the efforts of such young officers to educate women need appreciation. "Our deputy commissioner is a female, SHO is a female, judge is a female. We all get encouraged from them. And need more women like them at the helm" says Syeda Afreena, a student in Budgam higher secondary. Shehrish Asgar, a MBBS doctor, has brought new life into bureaucracy. She topped the state civil services exam in 2011 but did not stop there. She qualified the IAS in 2013 and has held many positions in the past. But it is her stint as the District Development Commissioner Budgam, that she has hit limelight- highlighting women's issues in particular.  She was selected to be an IPS in 2012 but chose not to stop there as she says - “Small steps by us at breaking the myths & demolishing the unfounded taboos about our womanhood. Proud of all those women whose daily struggles go unnoticed. God bless you all.”